Polish rod hanger



y 1938. R. c. JOHNSTON 2,122,944

Y POLISH ROD HANGER Filed April 25, 1936 IN VENTOR P051387 CJOHNJTON A TTORNE Y Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to pump mechanism, and particularly pertains to a polish rod hanger.

In the operation of oil well pumping mechanism, which includes a polish rod extending into the well and driving means. to reciprocate the same, it often occurs that due to inequality in pressures exerted upon the pump pistons or the rods, there is a tendency for the rod to rotate. This may unscrew the" rod at some one of its joints, and if not may place an undesirable twisting strain upon the rods. It also often occurs that sand and other solid matter suspended in the liquid being pumped will accumulate within the cylinders; This accumulation sands up the cylinders so that the pump pistons may not move throughout their entire stroke. When the polish rod is being moved by driving mechanism positively connected therewith it will be evident that the stroke of the driving mechanism will remain constant while the possible movement of the polish rod is shortened. This will place undue strain upon the polish rod tending to produce crystallization at a possible parting of the rod. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a polish rod hanger and grip which is interposed between the polish rod and its driving mechanism, and which acts to adjust itself automatically to conditions existing in the well whereby the force might be exerted to rotate the polishrod or to shorten its stroke.

' The present invention contemplates the provision of a polish rod hangerincluding a housing in which a freely rotatable sleeve is mounted and within which sleeve the polish rod slips are carried to positively grip the rod on the upstroke of the driving mechanism and to, if necessary, release the rod and regrip it at the end of its down stroke.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in. which:

Figure 1 is a View in central Vertical section through the polish rod hanger with which the present invention is concerned. M

Fig. 2 is a view in plan showing the rod hanger. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation showing the rod hanger and indicates the pivotal connection of the hanger straps. o

Referring'more particularly to the drawing, l0 indicates the outer cylindrical housing ofa ro'd hanger which carries trunnions II and [2. These trunnions extend from diametrically opposite sides of the housing and'receive the bearing ends of straps l3 and 14. It is to be understood that these straps are a part of the usual reins by which adriving connection is made with a walkwardly into the tapered bore.

ing beam or other member which will produce a reciprocating motion of the polish rod. A central bore I5 is formed within the housing I0 and at its lower .end. terminates with an inturned flange I6 having a central bore I1 therethrough of reduced diameter. Resting upon the face [8 of the flange is a thrust ball race l9 having a downwardly extending lip which fits within the bore I! and thus centers the ball race. A series of thrust bearing balls 2! rest upon the race and '10 wardly and which at its upper end terminates with a cylindrical counterbore 21.; A plurality of polish rod slips, 28 extend through the bore of the sleeve 23. These slips are tapered to conform to .the taper of the bore 26 and will thus move to contracting positions as they are forced down- The upper ends of the slips are formed with cylindrical portions 30 here shown as extending through a housing top plate 3|. The cylindrical portion .30 represents a reduced diameter as compared to the large 1 diameter of the upper end of the tapered portion .iOf ztheuslips and thus i-accommodates :a friction .washer 32 which is interposed between the cover platel'ai and :arshoulder33 ion the slips. The

.c'overiplate :is secured position by acap screws 34. L'Iihe .slips .areiormed with'arcuate inner :fa'ces 229 having' the usual serrations thereon to grip a cylindrical member on the upstroke and in the present instance to grip a polish rod and lift it incident to .a pumping operation.

' serrated teeth on the slips. During pumping the strap arms I3 and M will be moved upwardly and downwardly by a suitable pump :driving mechanism and when all conditions of :pressure are uniform the polish rod hanger and the polish rod 35 will :move in unison. In the event that force is exerted tending to set up torsion :in 'Ethe polish-rod, the polish rod, the slips 28, and the sleeve 23 willrotate on the ball bearings 2|. It

is notdesirable, however, for this rotation :to take place without resistance since in that case the rods might be freely rotating at all times. It is for that reason that the friction washer 32 is provided. This washer is of a thickness to be clamped between the shoulder 33 and the cover plate 3| to resist slight twisting strains and to permit excessive twisting strains to overcome the friction between the parts, so that the polish rod may rotate without resisting the rotating force sufficiently to impose an undue strain upon the rod or to unscrew any of the joints. In the event that the pump cylinder becomes sanded up so that the pistons cannot move down to the desired. 7

length of stroke for which they were designed and are driven it will be evident that at thepoint where resistance to downward movement of the.

and a reverse stroke is initiated the slips will grip the rod and lift it in unison therewith. This action will therefor-e automatically permit readjustment of the polish rod with rod hanger and pump mechanism so that as the pump cylinder accumulates material resisting the down stroke of the polish rod no damage will be done to the pump or the rod.

' It will thus be seen that the present invention while decidedly simple in its construction, provides a positive grip for a polish rod of a pump on its lifting stroke, and permits free adjustment of the rod when undue torsional or thrust strains are imposed upon it.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

, 1. In combination with a pump polish rod, a rod; hanger. having reciprocating movement, a housing, separate means engaging the polish rod on the upstroke of said hanger to cause the rod and the hanger to move in unison, said means uautomatically releasing the rod when the down stroke of the rod is less than the down stroke of the hanger, and a bearing structure carrying the rod engaging means and supporting the same for rotational movement relative to the :housing whereby rotation of the polish rod with relation to the hanger may take place.

2. In combination with a pump polish rod, a rod hanger having reciprocating movement, means engaging the polish rod on the upstroke of said hanger to cause the rod and the hanger to move in unison, said means automatically releasing the rod when the down stroke of the rod is less than the down stroke of the hanger, a bearing structure for rotatably supporting the rod engaging means within the hanger and permitting rotation of the polish rod with relation to the hanger, and means resisting said rotation. 3. Incombination with a pump polish rod, a

hangerby which it is operativelyconnected to,

a pumping mechanism, said hanger including a housing, slip means therein for gripping the rod,

, and a bearing structure rotatably supporting the slip means within the housing whereby relative rotation of the slip means with relation to the housing and in either direction may take place.

4. In combination with a pump polish rod, a hanger by which it is operatively connected to a pumping mechanism, said hanger including a housing,-slip means therein for gripping the rod, a bearing structure supporting the slip means Within the housing for permitting relative rotation of the slip means with relation to the housing and in either direction, and means frictionally resisting said rotation.

5. In combination with a pump polish rod, a hanger by which it is operatively connected to a pumping mechanism, said hanger including a housing. slip means therein for gripping the rod, a bearing structure supporting the slip means within the housing for permitting relative rotation of the slip means with relation to the housing and in either direction, means interposed between said slip means and the housing for frictionally resisting said rotation, and the bearing structure carrying anti-friction bearing means interposed between the housing and the rod gripping means.

6. A polish rod hanger comprising a housing,

trunnions upon opposite sides thereof to receive plate at the top of thehousing for retaining the sleeve therein.

7. A polish 'rod hanger comprising a housing,

trunnions upon opposite sides thereof to receive a beam hanger, a slip sleeve within said housing, thrust bearing means within the housing and upon which the slip sleeve seats, a cover plate at the top of the housing for retaining the sleeve therein, and friction means interposed between the sleeve and the cover plate tending to resist relative rotation of the sleeve and the housing.

8.;A polish rod hanger comprising a housing, trunnions upon opposite sides thereof to receive a beam hanger, a slip sleeve within said housing, thrust bearing means within the housing and upon which the slip sleeve seats, a cover plate at the top of the housing for retaining the sleeve therein, friction means interposed ,between the sleeve and the cover plate tending to' resist relative rotation of the sleeve and the fhousingfan'd a plurality of slips mounted within the sleeve and yieldably supported in a gripping position.

9. A polish rod hanger, a housing formed as a part of said polish rod hanger, trunnions carried thereby toreceive a beam hanger, a slip sleeve rotatably mounted within the polish rod hanger, a thrust bearing upon which the slip sleeve is rotatably supported, said slip sleeve being formed with a central downwardly and inwardly tapered bore, a plurality of slips having outer tapered faces to seat within the tapered bore of the slip sleeve and having inner serrated faces to engage a polish rod extending therethrough, an upper shoulder formed on each of said slips, a non-metallic yiel-dable member mounted on said shoulder and embracing the upper ends of the slips, and a plate secured to the polish rod hanger housing and bearing against said non-metallic member.

ROBERT CLAUD JOHNSTON. 

